The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), informally known as Obamacare, aims to ensure that health insurance is affordable to all Americans.
The Act, signed into law by President Obama in March 2010, makes it possible for families whose income was below the poverty line to afford a health insurance premium.
The State of Florida staunchly opposed the Affordable Care Act initially. But despite ongoing efforts to repeal the ACA, Florida has the highest federal health insurance marketplace enrollments.
While all states are subject to the ACA, aspects of it can differ from state to state. Accessibility to plans and coverage options will be influenced by the state in which you reside.
So, if you want to know how to apply for subsidies to lower your health insurance premiums, check out this guide on how to sign up for Obamacare in Florida.
About Obamacare In Florida
ACA lowers health insurance costs and makes necessary procedures and medications available for Americans who qualify.
This includes people without workplace insurance, with pre-existing medical conditions, and with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.
ACA makes several provisions applicable across all states:
- Insurers may not deny coverage for pre-existing conditions
- Insurers may not cancel health insurance unless there is fraud.
- Lifetime monetary caps on health insurance plans are prohibited.
- Plan members may choose their preferred doctor from any participating primary care provider.
- Parents may keep children on their health insurance until age 26.
- New policies must cover and pay for a portion of preventive care visits.
Most people in Florida who sign up for Marketplace coverage are under sixty-five. People older than sixty-five are better suited for Florida Medicare plans.
The Affordable Care Act allows states to lower the income requirements to qualify for Medicare coverage. However, Florida is one of the states that has not expanded Medicaid eligibility.
Florida utilizes the federal health insurance exchange through HealthCare.gov. However, you can find ACA plans through a health insurance marketplace like Enhance Health to ensure you’re getting the right one for your needs.
Who Is Eligible For Obamacare In Florida?
Obamacare aims to make healthcare accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.
While low-income households benefit from special subsidies that reduce health insurance costs, Obamacare allows people to purchase health insurance regardless of income level.
With Obamacare, you may qualify for a premium subsidy if your household income is between 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level.
Obamacare is open to American citizens who do not have access to other affordable health insurance. (insurance that costs you less than 9.12 percent of your household income)
Non-US citizens may also qualify for Obamacare if they are in the U.S. lawfully.
Immigration status includes:
- Lawful permanent resident or green card holder
- Lawful temporary resident
- A resident of American Samoa
- Non-immigrant status, including those with worker visas and student visas
- Member of a federally recognized Indian tribe, or an American Indian born in Canada
- Cuban or Haitian entrant
- Immigrants paroled into the U.S
- Refugee or Asylee
- Battered spouse, child, and parent
- Victim of trafficking
- Those with an administrative order issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that stays their removal.
You are not eligible for Obamacare if:
- You are incarcerated
- You are married and file separate taxes
- You refuse to file income tax
To qualify for Obamacare, you must sign up during each year’s open enrollment season.
Open Enrollment In Obamacare In Florida
Florida residents can apply for Obamacare plans during the annual open enrollment period, which usually occurs from November 1 – January 15 each year.
If you miss the open enrollment period, you may not be able to enroll in a health insurance plan that qualifies for cost assistance or other protections.
If you’re looking to sign up for Obamacare in Florida outside of open enrollment, you’ll need to qualify for special enrollment, short-term coverage, or Medicaid/CHIP (if you don’t already qualify for Medicare or employer coverage).
How To Sign Up For Obamacare In Florida
In Florida, you can sign up for Obamacare on the national marketplace website or use a health insurance broker like Enhance Health.
At Enhance Health, we make it easy to sign up for Obamacare in Florida. With so many plans and options to choose from, it can be overwhelming and it can be difficult to understand all the fine print.
If you’re struggling to understand which plan is the right choice for you, simply give us a call and chat with an agent. We’re here to help you understand all your options and exactly what they entail. This way, you can make a better, more informed decision about your health care coverage.
One of our agents will chat with you about your household size, current coverage, your income, and more. This is so that we can find plans that you qualify for and that meet your needs.
We take you through the entire process from start to finish. Once we’ve laid out your options, we’ll help you enroll and activate your Obamacare policy. It’s as simple as that!
What Do You Need To Sign Up For Florida?
If you are wondering about our eligibility for Obamacare in Florida, there are several points you should know.
- Your eligibility for subsidized healthcare is based on your income for the current year that you are covered. Do not use your past income as reported on the previous year’s tax return. This means that you must estimate your income when you apply for subsidies.
- Suppose your income exceeds your estimate during the year. In that case, you may have to pay back part of or all the subsidy dollars applied to your monthly health insurance premiums.
- If you earn less than your estimated income, you may be due additional subsidies that will be applied when you file your taxes at year-end.
To ensure a smooth enrollment process, have the following documents on hand:
- Social Security Numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants)
- Estimated incomes for this year
- Income information for every household member who needs health coverage.
- Last year’s tax information for you and your family
- Medical history – While pre-existing health conditions will not affect the cost of health insurance on Obamacare, smoking, weight, and age affect the cost.
- Employer details
- Policy numbers for any current health insurance plans covering members of your household.
Key Takeaways
You can apply for Obamacare subsidies through the government-run health insurance marketplace in Florida or through qualifying licensed agents.
However, many people find the process of enrolling through the national health insurance marketplace intimidating or they may be concerned about making a mistake.
In that case, Enhance Healthhave licensed agents to help you find insurance plans that fit your needs. Our agents help determine if you are eligible for Obamacare subsidies and identify marketplace plans available in Florida.
We’re here to help guide you through the process of understanding your options and signing up for Obamacare in Florida.
